Monday Memos // 89

Listening:

"Down in the Willow Garden" by The Everly Brothers.

"New Orleans Instrumental No. 1" by R.E.M.

"Charcoal Baby" by Blood Orange.

Reading:

Books I want to read:

No One Tells You This by Glynnis MacNicol. "a fearless reckoning with modern womanhood and an exhilarating adventure that will resonate with anyone determined to live by their own rules."

Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides. "Narratively compelling, beautifully written, and packed with a density of ideas despite their fluid grace, these stories chart the development and maturation of a major American writer."

The Incendiaries by R. O. Kwon. "a fractured love story that explores what can befall those who lose what they love most."

image from an illustrated book review by Kristen Radtke (via nylon)

Craving:

Hanging in Maryland, which thus far means feasting on Joe Squared pizza and trying a newer spot in DC: A Rake's Progress. The latter is set in The Line hotel, which is beautiful itself — a cobbling together of restaurants, a radio station, and hotel housed inside a 110-year old massive-columned church. 

We had fresh Chesapeake oysters and salty, buttered bread. My mom and I shared a crab cake with shaved cucumber, red onion, tomato and smoked onion tartar; an heirloom tomato tart with puff pastry, vinaigrette and various basils; plus a farro salad with summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, nectarines and yogurt dressing.

We also had an incredible fudge brownie sundae: spelt brownie, mint chip ice cream, tiny homemade Oreos, whipped cream and hot fudge. A winner!

Pre- and post-saucing. 

Wearing:

Since I haven't been wearing anything particularly outlandish (denim, black, black, black), here are some beautiful images of things I love and would wear. 

Leandra Medine shoes (leandra medine via vogue)

Mara Hoffman delights.

Watching:

Last Friday I watched The End of the Tour on the bus ride to MD. It was slow but great, sad but soothing. Maybe one day I'll read Infinite Jest. 

Today I read that True Detective season 3 is back in January. Fingers crossed it's like the first season and renews our love of the show. 

I haven't been going to the movies or falling deep into shows much recently, so enthusiasm is currently in the ebb phase. 

Treasuring:

Giddiness and excitement: I experienced a few days last week where I couldn't contain my wild smiles. I took a ferry ride from the beach to the city — through the sunset hours. I was handed an It's-It out of the blue. I met a stranger in such a spectacular way. I shared stories with lots of details. I daydreamed on car rides. I'm letting the waves of emotions wash over me and I'm constantly pumped for the future and the now. 

Hello It's-It, my old friend / I've come to talk with you again

Monday Memos // 72

Listening:

"Windows" by Angel Olsen. (The change at 2:28 is my favorite part)

"No Face" by Haley Heynderickx.

Reading:

The Last Conversation You’ll Ever Need to Have About Eating Right - A great read and reminder that all we need to do is eat real food and not too much, which is somehow easier said than done.

'Geriatric Starlet' Iris Apfel Isn't Telling Anyone How to Live - Simply: I love Iris. 

"Many protein bars are as nutritious as candy bars." I think that's why I love eating them. (photo by Bobby Doherty via nymag)

Craving:

I have a lot of restaurants starred on my map app. This weekend I got to cross one off the list: Cafe Mogador. I think I remember learning about it when I interned for The New Potato—jewelry designer Pamela Love had it on her list, and as I was starring all the vintage/thrift shops she loves, I added the Moroccan-inspired place too.

It lived up to the hype. I could've eaten seven more dishes and several more orders of the homemade naan. I even went as far as pouring the curry broth that the mussels came in into a little vessel and drinking every last drop. The music was perfect. I want to go back. I want to try their breakfast too.

Founder Rivka behind the counter at the original East Village Location. (image via cafemogador)

Yes please. (photo via BelleSavransky/DIA-NEW-YORK)

Wearing:

I think my spring wardrobe palette will be turquoise, black, and purple-pink. I found some of the best poppy collared shirts at Urban Jungle Vintage and Thrift this weekend. I'm finally feeling ready for warmer weather and skirts and dresses. More sunshine and less bulky outerwear. 

I love Angela Deane's Flora series. "Cactus Garden on Alert"

Watching:

Netflix: I quickly consumed much of Everything Sucks! "The kids in Everything Sucks! brood to music by Tori Amos and Oasis. They play with slap bracelets and use VCRs plugged into non-flat-screen televisions. They dress like No Doubt–era Gwen Stefani and paste magazine pictures of Scott Wolf from Party of Five into collages. When they’re trying to seem really “cool,” they show up to drama club gatherings with a six-pack of Zima. There are times when the show plays like a moving-picture version of one of those BuzzFeed listicles about 25 Things That Only ’90s Kids Understand." It's sincere and sweet and very enjoyable.

Peyton Kennedy and Jahi Di’Allo Winston. (photo via Scott Patrick Green/Netflix)

Movie: I went to see Isle of Dogs when it opened on Friday. I've been waiting to see this for at least a year (I regularly troll Wes Anderson's IMDb page). It was incredible! It made my heart swell! I want to nuzzle every dog I see—more than usual. It was also a nice reminder than evil can be conquered by genuine compassion (it had some strong parallels to our current political climate). 

The phrase "Isle of Dogs" appropriately sounds like "I love dogs." (image via Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Treasuring:

Everything: Blue skies and snowstorms. Sleeping and walking for miles. Laughter and uncontainable tears. Hunger and the fullest satisfaction. Eating on the floor and on the subway and nestled in a lovely restaurant corner. Writing a thousand words and sitting quietly.

Monday Memos // 65

Listening:

"All My Loving" by The Beatles.

"Ubik" by Reptaliens. 

Reading:

The Mugs That Our Favorite Ceramicists Can't Live Without - I love these kind of "favorite things" pieces. The artwork is so great too. "One recent study found that one in six people have an emotional attachment to one particular mug. A third would be “angry” or “totally devastated” if their favorite one broke. So it’s totally normal to grow attached to a certain mug; it’s always there for you, unless someone else is using it. (Don’t do that.)"

What's your favorite mug? (illustrations by Maria Sainte via bonappetit)

Doing the Right Thing for the Wrong Reason

(images by Miss Lasko-Gross via thenewyorker)

I’ll Need Your Café’s Wi-Fi Password Because I’m Working on My Novel Today - "Would you like to take a photograph of me and hang it up, so you can one day tell your patrons that a famous author sat here for twelve hours using your Wi-Fi and only purchased a single coffee? What size for the coffee? The smallest you have, please."

Craving:

A moment of wanting a big bowl of something delicious nearby brought me to the fast-casual restaurant Cava. I can always go for Mediterranean food. The sauces and pita and toppings were all so good I went back a few days later.

I'll be back. (image via zagat)

I finally tried a cookie from Ovenly. As their website says, "we adventurously explore culinary traditions with an unexpected twist, thoughtfully melding sweet and savory with a touch of spice." Even though I just had a simple salted chocolate chip cookie ("secretly vegan"), it was so wonderful. I'm still dying to try their Brooklyn blackout cake. 

One of everything please. (image via ovenly by winona barton-ballentine)

Wearing:

Unintentionally, my entire wardrobe was black, grey, and blue this week. I suppose my red knit hat adds a dose of color, but I could stand to brighten things up. Most likely I'll throw in some sparkles and bright plaids. It's so cold, burrowing in black just feels right. 

Colorful inspiration. Top image: Marni Spring 2018 Ready-to-Wear fashion show on Vogue Runway. Middle image: Lupita Nyong’o photographed by Erik Madigan Heck for "The Guardian." Bottom image: Gorman clothing.

Watching:

Turns out they're making a Big Lebowski spin-off based on John Turturro's character, Jesus Quintana. I'm weary but intrigued; also, the Coen brothers aren't involved. "Strangely, this film is apparently a remake of the 1974 French film "Les Valseuses." This new version, which also stars Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou, and Susan Sarandon," is titled "Going Places."

So deep in my Australian tv romance I can hardly watch anything else. I did manage some hotel viewing sessions of "Jeopardy" and "Seinfeld" as palate cleansers. 

(image via slashfilm.com)

Treasuring:

Revival. Some synonyms include: improvement, recovery, rallying, picking up, amelioration, turn for the better, upturn, upswing, resurgence... I'm feeling my happiness returning. I'm remembering what it feels like to be excited about the entire day (for several days in a row). I'm so busy and fulfilled I'm doing more than crossword puzzles and wandering around the mall. A few nights ago I turned out the light, going to sleep with tears of contentment streaking my face and a smile in my heart. The kitten on the poster was right: hang in there. 

🖐🏻Must love cats. (drawing by Nadine Redlich)

Monday Memos // 44

Listening:

"Track A - Solo Dancer" by Charles Mingus

"So Good At Being In Trouble" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

"Curse Your Branches" by David Bazan

Reading:

Reassuring advice from Toni Morrison and her father: The Work You Do, the Person You Are.

I'm ready for the return of "Difficult People" this week and as always, Julie is a hoot. What Julie Klausner Can’t Live Without.

Temp tee! (image via the strategist)

Craving:

A craving and reading combined, I was looking through the August issue of Bon Appétit: The Simple Issue. Every recipe has five ingredients or less and made my mouth water.

Catching my eye: Jam Toaster Tarts, Corn Flake Cake, Oven-Dried Strawberries, Grilled Halibut and Summer Squash with Pumpkin Seeds, Lentil Purée with Cumin, Cilantro, and Lime... drooling.

"Sweet corn makes for an awesome dessert—if you like carrot cake, you’re going to love this one. You’ll get a corn three-way with fresh corn kernels, a little bit of cornmeal to get a cornbread-like flavor, plus the crunch of Corn Flakes is so damn satisfying." (photo by Laura Murray, styling by Judy Mancini via bonappetit)

"They're chewy—a bit softer than a dried apricot—with a plump, juicy consistency." I could top a lot of things with these. (image by Alex Lau via bonappetit)

Wearing:

Pink. Hot, pastel, salmony. I appreciate the spectrum of pink. 

Button up Hawaiian shirts. Old tees. Bright sandals. Lip glosses.

I cannot wait until I get to wear pink in the form of socks, sweatshirts and jackets. 

Watching:

"Good Girls Revolt." New York in the 1960s | Magazine fact-checkers and reporters | Mad Men vibes | Female inequality and liberation. I'm breezing through this while cleaning and unpacking.

I like following the journalism and outfits. (image via amazon studios)

"Housesitters."

Sometimes you need a palate cleanser between Game of Thrones, the summer heat and angst, and moving. My friend was watching "The Out-of-Towners," which got us talking about Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin, which led to rewatching this oldie. Some easy slapstick humor and goofiness.

Goldie in the grass—this instantly made me think of Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World. (image via universal studios)

I saw this super weird and amazing trailer for "The Great British Bake Off" and can't wait for it. This is where my love of tv and sweets and nerding out collide!

Wanting:

I'm looking into getting tickets to see one of my favorite podcasts live: My Favorite Murder. They'll be in my state in November. 

Stay sexy and don't get murdered. (image by Mandee Johnson via rollingstone)

I would love to see the Color Factory in San Francisco. 

"This two-story interactive exhibition celebrates color and material, featuring work by some of our favorite artists and collaborators... Lose yourself in 10,000 colored ribbons, sink into a giant yellow ball pit, catch some rainbows, smell colorful memories, and taste a spectrum of treats from our favorite stops in San Francisco. The pinks will delight you, the blues will amaze you, the yellows might make you hungry."

Yellow (image via colorfactory)

Swoon. (image via colorfactory)